Crank axle for gun carriages



March 15, 1927. 1,620,852

H. C. ZIMMERMAN CRANK AXLE FOR GUN CARRIAGBS Filed Sept. 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 atfoxneq March 15 1927.-

H. C. ZIMMERMAN CRANK AXLE FOR GUN CARRIAGES Filed Sept. 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H any Zimmerman Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

u-MTED stares HARRY o. ZIMMEBMAN; or wasnmeron, nrsrnro'r or COLU BIA.

CRANK AXLE FOR GUN CARRIAGES.

Application filed September 16, 1924. Serial No. 738,072.

Gasman UNDER. ran ear or Manes .2, 1853; 22 sri i'r. L. 625. f

The subject of this invention a crank type of gun for the purpose of permitting angular adjustment of the carriage to se cure increased range of elevation, it is evident that the top carriage must be removed when the axle is adjusted from low angle to high angle'position so that it may be'ino'unted' from the opposite side of the axle.

Furthermore, in effecting this adjustment the'training mechanism which is normally mounted on the rear side of the axle will be positioned on the forward side and hence inaccessible unless the wheels and axles are reversed. Provision must also be. made in the axle to permit' passa'ge therethrouglr of the elevating segment when the training mechanismis in either position of adjust ment.

Inasmuch as revolubl'ysupported trails are not feasible in a. knock down gun of this type and since they necessitate a more or less intricate locking devicewhich must bear all the strain incident, to when the axle is in high angle adjustment it is proposed to provide a reversibletrail having angular connections with the axle.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the constructiom arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed. ontin theclaims forming a partof this specification. i i A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated. in the accoinpanying drawings, in which i H i Fig. lis a'view in side elevation of a gun carriage with the rear side of the carriage cut away, showing the position of the axle when the carriage is mounted for low angle firing;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the carriage mounted for high angle firing;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of. the axle;

Fig. i is a rear elevation of the, axle;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof; Y

Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on the line 66 of'Fig. 4 and showingthe method ofattaching the trails ;v

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4c.

Referring to the drawings'by numerals of reference:

The carriage comprises a pair of wheels 10 connected by av crank axle 11, which is preferably an I -beam formed with vertical sockets open throughout,1the central socket carriage 14 and the side sockets 13 13 positioned adjacent the crank arms and adapted to receive coupling bolts for locking parallel trails'15 to the axle.

Referring to Figure 6 the trail may be provided with forwardly extending apertured ears 16-16 adapted to be imposed on the. axle by a sliding movement and held to the axle in suitable manner, as by means of a bolt 17 which may be removable from or retained in the socket as showmand as specifically claimed in a companion application Serial No. 738,074, filed September 16, 1924. The trails are connected at their rear ends by a symmetrical spade 18 adapted to, anchor the carriage when mounted for either low or high angle fire as will appear more clearly. hereinaften' I i The central socket 12 is formed at either end withv unequal bores. forming seats havingbushings 19 so that the pintle 20 of the top carriage 14 may be supported therein and inserted from either side of the axle. The socket is formed with an exterior boss 21' for, the reception and retention of a plunger 22 adapted to engage in a. recess in the pintle for holding. the top carriage to the axle.

The central. socket includes, .upper and lower rectangular extensions 23 for the reception of brackets 24: designed to rotatably mount the training. mechanism housing 2.5 fronitheaxle. i

The axle is formed with openings 26 at either side of the central socket to permit a pair of elevating segments 27 to pass through the axle and be removably secured to lugs 28 on the gun cradle. The segments are supported and guided in different sets of grooves formed in the housing accordingly as the gun is mounted for low or high angle fire. It will be understood that when the cradle is lifted from the segments they may be completely withdrawn from the axle and reinserted in the proper set of grooves in the housing. 7

Assumin the carriage to be positioned for low angle "re as shown in Figure 1, the adjustment for high angle fire is made by releasing the plunger 22 from the pintle and removing the top carriage and with it'the cradle and gun. The trails are then uncoupled, the wheels swung about to position the training mechanism 'to the rear, the axle rotated 180, and the trails turned over and again coupled to the axle. After removing the elevating segments to the opposite set of grooves thecradle may bereplaced by inserting the pintle of the top carriage in the central socket, the ends of the elevating segments being guided into the lugs on the cradle.

The necessity for turning over the trails is eliminated when removable coupling bolts are used and may also be obviated when using non-removable bolts by constructing the lower ear similar to the upper ear with a cut out portion 29 to slide past the oblong portion 30 of the bolt head when attaching the trail in either position of the axle.

While in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in'the light of the subjoined claims.

. I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, said axle formed with a plurality of vertical sockets, the central socket having symmetrical seats at opposite ends thereof adapted for the reception of a pintle from either side, rectangular extensions formed on said central socket to provide for attachment of a trainin 'mechanism, said axle further formed with apertures on either side of said central socket, trail members supported on said axle, and means passing through the trails and side sockets {for locking the axle in position of adjustment. 2. In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, said axle formed with a centrally disposed socket having symmetrical seats in opposite ends thereof, rectangular extensions formed on said socket to provide for attachment of a training mechanism, said axle further formed with apertures on either side of said central socket, trail members supported on said axle, and means for holding the axle in position of angular adjustment.

3. In combinatlonwith a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mount- 7 ed, removable trail members supported on said axle, means for locking the axle and trail together to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment, said axle formed with a symmetrical socket for supporting a top carriage in any position of adjustment, and said socket including rectangular extensions to provide for attachment of a training mechanism.

4. In combination with a pair of Wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, removable trail members supported on said axle, means for locking the axle and trail together to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment, and said axle formed with a symmetrical socket for supporting a top carriage in any position of adjustment.

5. In combination with a pair of'wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, said axle adapted to support a removable top carriage and a fixed training mechanism, removable trail members supported on said axle, and means for locking the trails to the axle to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment.

6. In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, said axle adapted to support a removable top carriage, removable trail members sup ported on said axle, and means for locking the trails to theaxle to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment.

7 In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, said axle adapted to support a fixed training mechanism, removable trail members supported on said axle, and means for locking the trails to the axle to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment.

8. In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, trail members having non-circular connectin g members imposed on the axle, and means for locking the axle and trail together to hold the axlein position of angular adjustment. 7 i i 9. In combination with a pair of wheels, a crank axle on which the wheels are mounted, removable trail members connected to the axle, and means for locking the axle and trails together to hold the axle in position of angular adjustment.

HARRY C. ZIMMEBMAN. 

